Zero net energy to end power woes in Bangalore

Now, no more power woes for Bangaloreans, if the zero net energy concept is implemented. If all goes according to plan, the Indian Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) will launch its zero energy home and office product next February.

According to the engineering body, in a zero net energy home, the average annual consumption is almost nil.

This happens when the house depends more on photo-voltaic or solar power and wind power, with systems integrated during the designing of the construction.

D Nirmal Ram, a member of ISHRAE, said the designs and systems will be embedded into the house.

There will be photo-voltaic plates to provide light  while air-conditioning can be done with the help of solar power. For rest of the requirements, small wind mills are installed inside the house compound.

“During summer, the household consumes more energy and draws power from the grid. But during the other months, the energy generated from the windmill and solar, which does not get used can be shared among other consumers. So the energy bought is also given back and hence the net energy drawn from grid is zero,” said V Krishnan, president of ISHRAE, national chapter.

About the green strategy, Pankaj Shah, co-chairman of ISHRAE said, “It is only a myth that green energy is expensive. If we look closely, the energy efficient appliances cost just a little more with a lot of additional features and the benefit of using energy efficient appliances percolates to everybody.”

ISHRAE is also consulting with different corporate and private contractors involved in the construction of high-rise buildings and others that are enabled with energy efficient systems, proper fenestration and fire-fighting facilities.